Hey girlfriend – what's your secret? We all love the tips and tricks women share with each other. There are the fun things that may seem silly, but make our lives better and even make us smile like funny photos and personal fashion tragedies. Then there are those practical things that we use to make life easier like where to shop for what and recipes for the strange ingredients in our 'fridge. As friends we love to exchange helpful information with our girlfriends, right? So, I'm here to share some recent girlfriend 'secrets' with you!

I recently was honored as one of 10 women bloggers selected by Frito-Lay to attend a special event in Los Angeles to celebrate the launch of the "A Woman's World" campaign featuring four animated girlfriends. (There's your first secret – there ARE healthy yummy snacks just for women! I know – I've eaten them! For example: Baked Lays, SmartFood, Flat Earth snacks and more to come.) We were flown to L.A. to tour their Frito-Lay Rancho Cucamongo plant and to attend a special premiere and red carpet event with none other than Brooke Burke – model, mom and "Dancing with the Stars" champ.

Now a fun celebrity meet-up doesn't happen to me everyday so I panicked! I mean, I'm a blogger/marketer who works at home and doesn't have a lot of "evening attire." Here's where it comes in super-handy to have a girlfriend who is generous and has aspirations of being a fairy godmother! I just mentioned, in passing, to Cincy Chic's own Amy Storer-Scalia that I was going to L.A., but wasn't feeling very up for the glam evening event. She waved her magic wand and – voila! – I was given the opportunity for a makeover. (That's a great fairy godmother!)

First stop, The Wardrobe – a trendy boutique in Maderia where owner Lesley Hern selected a few dresses for my review. All were beautiful, but we both fell in love with a flowing little dress with a jeweled neckline – perfect! Before leaving, I asked Lesley for a great girlfriend secret. Her advice – to remove any deodorant or make-up stains from garments use a dry sponge, like from Miss Oops. Another hopefully-not-so-secret service is that The Wardrobe offers "wardrobe therapy" so they can assist you in being prepared for any fashion needs and events. Click here to read a review of my experience at The Wardrobe on my blog, and watch a video of Hern explaining how to use the miracle-inducing Miss Oops product.

Next, I met up with Erin Biel from Designs by Paolo – a fabulous handbag manufacturer who makes all their products right here in Cincinnati. (Another secret: they're the only domestic Doctor Bag producer!) They have lots of amazing purses and designs. Erin and her husband, Paul, create these and sell them on their Web site, at trunk shows and select retailers. Her secrets? First, she said to match a bag to one's personality, not necessarily their shoes or other fashion "rules." She also suggests not getting a boyfriend/husband involved in the decision – you want what is right for you, right? She outfitted me in a fabulous pewter purse that looks sophisticated but yet I can carry it with jeans. Love it!

One last stop for my makeover and for getting more girlfriend secrets before leaving for California – the Tuscany Spa and Salon in Harpers Point. General manager, Liz, and her team gave me the full pampered treatment with an eyebrow shaping, manicure, hair cut, hair color and makeup. Emma and Brooke assisted me in making sure I knew how they were doing what they were doing so I can replicate the look. Brooke offered several hair care and styling secrets, such as: "Don't be afraid of product in your hair! The right shampoo and gel can really give your hair the look you want." Also, as Brooke shared, your hair is like your skin – it gets dry during the winter so she suggested a hair conditioner to compliment your style and type of hair. Check out the "Secrets Straight from Tuscany" for more Tuscany Spa and Salon secrets – they're great girlfriends to share so much!

From there it was off to California! A deluxe motor coach drive to Rancho Cucamongo was chatty as 10 women bloggers and some of the Frito-Lay creative team got to know each other. The tour of the plant was fascinating. I had no idea that Fritos are only three ingredients – flour, oil and salt – nor that they could taste so amazing hot right off the line! We sampled and heard about how Frito-Lay has made a commitment to providing healthy snacks for women. We women snack more than men but often deal with guilt around our food choices, but no more! Frito-Lay has several healthy options and more coming (some are still a secret!).

Frito-Lay selected us not only to help them reach women online but also to share our thoughts on their new "A Woman's World" campaign. We were able to hear the background and research, and to go through the steps they took in creating the campaign. Their almost all-women team was thrilled to present the campaign and some of the features that will be available in the coming weeks on www.awomansworld.com.

I managed to squeeze in a little shopping on Sunset Boulevard with the other bloggers, then it was time for the evening prep to begin. Again, thanks to Amy, The Wardrobe, Designs by Paolo and Tuscany Spa and Salon, I was able to pull off an evening look worthy of the red carpet event.

We arrived to paparazzi photographers outside the swanky Coco de Ville night club. Soon we were joined by Brooke Burke for photos on the red carpet. We each had a photo taken with her as well as a group shot. The surprise celebrity was Mel B., the Scary Spice of Spice Girls fame and also "Dancing with the Stars." Inside the club, we viewed the secret premiere Webisode for "A Woman's World." Our glamorous job was to do live blogging (and a lot of Twitter tweeting) from the event. Then we had the opportunity to sit down with Brooke and Mel B. for some one-on-one girlfriend conversation.

Mel B was first on my celebrity list. We discussed how she is still close friends with the other Spice Girls and values her "girlfriendships" very much. She was very nice, looked fabulous and fit, and shared her fitness secret as her new DVD "Totally Fit" with Mel B. Brooke was so beautiful and sweet. We talked about her friendships and how at 37 and with four children, she really values her girlfriends more than she did even a few years ago. Her secret? She has her husband make plans with his friends or the kids at least once a week so she has time for herself and time for her girlfriends.

Soon the bubble burst and it was time for the party to end. Back to Cincinnati and the real world! But I was able to meet some amazing, inspiring women, learn about healthy snacks for women and meet some beautiful celebrities. Plus, thanks to my fairy godmother and The Wardrobe, Designs by Paolo and Tuscany Spa and Salon, I was able to confidently step onto the red carpet and look my best. There's no secret there – we all know girlfriends make great things happen. Aren't we lucky to have girlfriends?!

"Secrets Straight from Tuscany"
Beauty Secrets from the Tuscany Spa and Salon Staff

Trina (Nail Specialist): The most common problem for hands and feet is dryness. For a quick nail and cuticle fix, "treat" yourself by massaging olive oil into your nails. Additionally, for dry heels and calluses, soak your feet in equal parts of water and vinegar, then use a foot file. This will help smooth calluses in no time.

Francine (Front Desk): Forgot your mascara? Or are your going sea side and don't want to wear mascara because of smears? Dab some Vaseline on your lashes. This will make them show up more and will also condition your lashes.

Karen (Front Desk): Need a makeup touch up and only have lipstick? Dab a bit of lipstick on your checks or eyelids for a bit of color. Makeup can be used in several ways. You can even put shadow on your lips and finish with some gloss.

Brooke (A curly Haired Stylist): After blow drying curly or frizzy hair, use a small amount of mouse and run it through your hair. This will take away the "Frizz" and leave your hair looking smoother.

Lindsey (Hair Stylist): Don't wash your hair every day. Too much shampooing isn't good. If your hair needs a "pick me up" on day two…rinse with water in the shower and restyle. Short on time, forget about rinsing with water, just run your hairdryer throughout your hair and focus the heat at the root while holding your hair up. Then take a comb and back-comb your hair. A tease will take better on the second day. Then try putting your hair up loosely with some pins or a hair band for a casual ponytail.

Brittany (Hair Stylist): Do you have short hair and difficult cowlicks? Try using bobby pins to lay the cowlicks flat while you sleep. This often does the trick and allows you to skip a shampoo or eliminate the need to fight with your hair in the morning.

Tatyana (Hair Stylist): To change the direction of your part, dry your hair in the opposite direction and finish with hair spray. This also helps if you have bangs that tend to separate. If you want intense long-lasting makeup, start with your eyeliner and put your eye shadow over the liner. Put on another layer of shadow and blend! Puffy eyes? Keep a few spoons in the freezer. If you wake up with puffy eyes, touch the cold spoon to the puffy area and watch the puffiness disappear. Preparation H also works.

Emma (Esthetician, Nail Specialist): Taming of the brow. If your brows are in need of shaping, invest in a brow brush. Apply a bit of hair spray to the brush and shape your brows into place. Take the time for a brow waxing or brow threading. You will be amazed when you see what a professional brow shaping can do for your look. Some even feel like they have had a brow lift. Throw away your tweezers and do not introduce them to your children.

Liz (General Manager):

• Take a white highlighting eye shadow and apply it on the outer top of your cheek bone. It will give you face an instant glow. Flat hair? Brush your hair and flip it upside down. Spray your hair with hair spray and shake your head forward and back. You will be amazed at the instant volume.
• Woke up late and your hair is dirty (oh come on, we have all done it). Brush your hair and sprinkle talc throughout. Brush and shake. The talc will remove oiliness and will add volume.
• Ok, I haven't tried this, but a friend of mine has very dark hair. Alright, it is a bit gray and she colors her hair. Occasionally, between appointments to the salon, she applies black mascara to any stubborn grays that make an appearance!
• Going to watch your child's soccer game and look like you just rolled out of bed (and maybe you just did). Put your hair back in a pony tail and restyle your bangs (if you have them). Put on a great pair of sun glasses and some lip stick. You will look fabulous!

Alaine (Hair Stylist / Makeup Artist):

• Did you know that an easy way to cover up dark bluish bags under the eye is to apply orange lip stick? Of course don't use too much and blend, blend, blend.
• Eye Opener – Curl you eyelashes with an eyelash curler and use waterproof mascara to set the curl. Then line the eye with white eyeliner! You'll look alert and refreshed.
• Lasting Lip – Apply lip liner to the entire lip and then apply lip stick. Avoid gloss (this will not last and lip color will bleed).

Angela (Hair Stylist): Get celebrity curls. Start off with a good curling iron and hair that is slightly dirty. Hair that is freshly washed can be slippery and will not hold a curl. Hold the curling iron in a vertical position and curl your hair in sections (the small the section, the curlier the hair). Let hair cool (do not brush). Spray hairspray evenly throughout and wait a few minutes and the comb hair with you fingers. Often then next day simply requires only a few touch-up curls.

Megan (Hair Stylist): Crunched for time and just ran out of your favorite tinted moisturizer? Scrape a bit of pressed powder or loose powder and mix it with your face moisturizer. This is a quick fix to even your skin tone.

Lynsey (Esthetician): Add just a little lip gloss or a shimmer to the middle of your lips for a pouty, fuller look.

PHOTO CREDITS
Photo: Courtesy of Debba Haupert

Debba Haupert
		About the author:
		Debba Haupert is founder of Girlfriendology – the online community for women based on female friendship. Girlfriendology.com offers inspiring blogs, weekly podcasts and live BlogTalkRadio shows, videos, contests, reviews and more. Girlfriends make us healthier, happier, less stressed, live longer and feel more beautiful – and in the case of this trip to L.A., even help us shine on the red carpet!

Last update: 03-03-2009 12:07

Published in : Magazine Items, Social